Supreme Court Judge Scalia ticketed in traffic accident

[jaysunb]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was ticketed by U.S. Park Police after being found responsible for a four-car traffic accident on his way to the high court Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. on the southbound George Washington Parkway across the Potomac River from Washington in Virginia. Scalia reportedly rear-ended another driver who had stopped in traffic, and two other vehicles followed behind. No one was injured.

Scalia was handed a $70 fine for the infraction of following too closely. The justice, in his 25th year on the nation's highest court, can appeal the fine to a U.S. magistrate if he chooses, according to a Park Police spokesman, while acknowledging that was unlikely.

"He probably hasn't a clue how to contest a traffic ticket," David Schlosser, the spokesman, joked.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-scalia-traffic-ticket-20110330,0,7499934.story

[sakabatou]

1. I want to see his ass hauled off.

[SDuderstadt]

2. Hauled off?

For a traffic ticket?

[sakabatou]

4. If he doesn't pay the fine, maybe.

Maybe I'm thinking to big for something so small.

[msanthrope]

17. Yes--the fucker thought it was appropriate treatment for the rest of us for not having a seatbelt--

A misdemeanor under Texas law....and this fucker caused a 4-car accident.

http://supreme.justia.com/us/532/318/case.html

[greiner3]

24. Attempted murder?

[Hosnon]

34. Who gets "hauled off" for a traffic ticket?

Geez...

[msanthrope]

38. Here's the Supreme Court case where Scalia said that was okay--

http://supreme.justia.com/us/532/318/case.html

If Ms. Atwater can get hauled off for not having a seatbelt on, why not Scalia for causing an accident?

[Hosnon]

42. She was in Texas, and the Court rightfully applied that state's law.

Scalia was not in Texas. I don't think anyone should be arrested for a minor traffic violation.

[glinda]

55. My husband. They sent a cop to our house when he hadn't paid by a certain date even though there

was no date listed on the ticket or anything. Then they took $300 or they would haul his ass to jail. My husband is American Indian, doesn't drink and is a great citizen. I was shocked.

[Hosnon]

58. He probably got arrested for

(allegedly) violating the court order to appear/pay, not for the violation.

[Lasher]

3. Outa my way, quack quack!

[jberryhill]

5. Oddly, I don't think that can be done to a legislator on her way to session

I would have thought the same principle would apply to a federal judge on the way to court.

[unblock]

19. you're correct. the supreme court doesn't have the same time imperatives on voting

congress doesn't, and can't practically, delay votes just because one congresscritter got arrested.
the supreme court, on the other hand, can easily delay, they're a comparatively slow body anyways.

[jberryhill]

23. Brilliant!

[No Elephants]

31. Which law prevents a legislator from getting a traffic ticket while on the way to the office?

Okay, I found it: Article One, Section 6, The Constitution of the United States:

Section 6 - Compensation
(The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.) (The preceding words in parentheses were modified by the 27th Amendment.) They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

[NYC Liberal]

33. Here:

http://legacy.c-span.org/questions/week145.asp

"Freedom from "arrest" has been interpreted to mean also from detention or delay during an attempt at civil law enforcement."

"House rules specifically do not allow one of its Members to appear in court, even voluntarily."

[No Elephants]

41. Thanks, but I had quickly posted the correct answer to my own question.

"Freedom from "arrest" has been interpreted to mean also from detention or delay during an attempt at civil law enforcement."

Detain or delay is part of the very definition of "arrest," not only an interpretation of "arrest." Think what the word arrest means in "Arrested Developmnent," not only formally placing someone in legal custody.

rest (-rst)
v. ar·rest·ed, ar·rest·ing, ar·rests
v.tr.
1. To stop; check: a brake that automatically arrests motion; arrested the growth of the tumor.
2. To seize and hold under the authority of law.
3. To capture and hold briefly (the attention, for example); engage.
v.intr.
To undergo cardiac arrest: The patient arrested en route to the hospital.
n.
1.
a. The act of detaining in legal custody: the arrest of a criminal suspect.
b. The state of being so detained: a criminal under arrest.
2. A device for stopping motion, especially of a moving part.
3. The act of stopping or the condition of being stopped.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ar·resta·ble adj.
ar·rester, ar·restor n.
ar·restment n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
arrest <əˈrɛst>
vb (tr)
1. (Law) to deprive (a person) of liberty by taking him into custody, esp under lawful authority
2. (Transport / Nautical Terms) to seize (a ship) under lawful authority
3. (Medicine) to slow or stop the development or progress of (a disease, growth, etc.)
4. to catch and hold (one's attention, sight, etc.)
(Law)
arrest judgment Law to stay proceedings after a verdict, on the grounds of error or possible error
can't get arrested Informal (of a performer) is unrecognized and unsuccessful he can't get arrested here but is a megastar in the States
n
1. (Law) the act of taking a person into custody, esp under lawful authority
2. (Transport / Nautical Terms) the act of seizing and holding a ship under lawful authority
3. (Law) the state of being held, esp under lawful authority under arrest
4. Also called arrestation <ˌærɛsˈteɪʃən> {b]the slowing or stopping of the development or progress of something
5. the stopping or sudden cessation of motion of something a cardiac arrest

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

[NYC Liberal]

53. Yeah, in fact a traffic stop is the first thing I'd think of

when reading that clause. Since votes occur in Congress even if some members are absent, it's probably the most likely thing to delay them and potentially cause them to miss votes going to the Capitol.

[unblock]

37. note that in theory, at least, a congresscritter could be mailed a parking ticket.

the constitution merely prevents the police from arresting or delaying the congresscritter's "commute" and of course office hours.

[No Elephants]

47. Constitution says zero about only the "commute" or only office hours

Please read the language quoted in Reply 31 carefully, noting the word "and."

[unblock]

51. you put in bold the relevant section.

they can't be arrested going to or from or during a session of congress, but that doesn't prevent them from getting a ticket for acts done during those times, provided the ticket isn't given during that time and doesn't relate to speech in session.

so a congresscritter speeding to a session of congress could get a ticket based on one of those photo-and-mail speed traps. a congresscritter who runs over someone while driving to a session of congress couldn't be arrested at that time, but could certainly be arrested after returning home.

[Hosnon]

35. There aren't the same separation of powers issues with the Supreme Court.

If the executive arrests a Justice before a vote on a case it has an interest in, it would be extremely easy to delay the vote. Also, I don't think votes on cases are as structured as they are in the Congress, i.e., it would be difficult for the executive to know when to arrest the Justice.

[Gregorian]

6. A head-on collision with the Constitution?

Maybe the judge will look the other way for a one time only waiving of the law.

[No Elephants]

28. What does the Constitution have to do with this?

[The Doctor.]

7. He asked the Officer; "Do you know Who I Am?",

The officer replied; "No, but maybe if you hum a few bars."

[bleever]

8. Too bad he doesn't follow precedent that closely.

[msanthrope]

18. Thread win--I'm jealous, frankly....n/t

[TBF]

26. Snap! nt

[opihimoimoi]

9. If I was to dislike a person....he would be on the top ten list.

[Nostradammit]

12. You are a good person opihimoimoi -

Of few things am I certain but of that I certainly am.

My top ten list has about a hundred names.

[SpiralHawk]

22. "But, but, but, what about me?" - Coke Can Thomas (R - Stooge)

[opihimoimoi]

49. Yup.....Him too.....what a loser....both had given us W Bush...

n you know the rest

[cui bono]

10. For some reason I pictured Mr. Magoo.

Driving along oblivious to all that surrounds him and leaving a trail of destruction behind him.

[Festivito]

13. Yup, your Mr. Magoo, only with Boris Badinov's disposition. /nt

[aquart]

11. HE caused the accident?

Time to check into whichever hospital does those really thorough VIP checkups.

[DesertDiamond]

14. He should have been given a breathalyzer test.

[No Elephants]

45. +1

[LawnKorn]

15. Stupid Republican drivers!

They are half the problem on the roads today.

[deminks]

16. Why doesn't he have a driver?

We had talks with our family members when they reach a certain age, before they had accidents. Just sayin.

[AlbertCat]

27. Why doesn't he have a driver?

Which is a good question. He doesn't have a driver? In DC?

[jberryhill]

32. Depends on the distance.. A lot of guys use a three wood anyway /nt

[liberalla]

20. Who was he on the phone with?

I bet he was distracted - Dick was inviting him for more bird hunting or something.

[theothersnippywshrub]

29. Probably sexting with the Whore of Babble-On. n/t

[liberalla]

30. !

:o

Ack!

[slackmaster]

21. CALL CONGRESS!!!! !!!!111111 1111!!!!!!!!!!! RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!111!!!

:nuke:

[Xipe Totec]

25. So he's as blind literally, as he is figuratively? nt

[Octafish]

36. There's nothing in the Constitution that says you can't rear-end somebody.

It's an original position.

[msanthrope]

39. Obviously you've never read Scalia's dissent in 'Lawrence.' n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

40. LOL

[No Elephants]

46. Who knew? I always thought missionary was the original position.

[struggle4progress]

43. Too fast and too close is standard behavior for DC drivers.

I don't much like Justice Scalia's judicial opinions, but here I'm mainly glad to hear no one was hurt

[Zorra]

44. First time I ever wished a cop had planted dope in someones car. nt

[No Elephants]

48. Four people need to sue Tony.

[The Nexus]

50. Another case of "Where's my checkbook and who do I make it out to?" nt

[DeSwiss]

52. Hmmm.....

- http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/28/novak-tumor/">Brain tumor?

K&R

[RedCloud]

54. Put him in the butt slammer and say it's only a machine, not a person.

[unkachuck]

56. "...responsible for a four-car traffic accident..."

....fat tony is dangerous in more ways than one....

[maxrandb]

57. Scalia should know about following to close

Some say; "if Dick Cheney stopped abruptly, Tony Scalia's head would go right up Cheney's a$$"